Wittenberg travel guide

Market square (Photo: Public domain)

Wittenberg is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The official name is Lutherstadt Wittenberg for its close connection of the town with Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation. It was here that in 1517, according to the legend, Martin Luther posted his famous 95 Theses on the portal of the Schlosskirche. While historians doubt this particular part of the tale, it is certain that Luther disseminated his Theses from Wittenberg. In 2017 the town celebrated the 500th anniversary of the event. Luther Memorials in Wittenberg are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Other historical people with a close connection to Wittenberg are Luther's fellow reformer, Philipp Melanchthon, and the painter Lucas Cranach der Ältere.

Wittenberg should not be confused with the much smaller town of Wittenberge in northwestern Brandenburg.

• Tourist Information, Schlossplatz 2, ☏ +49 3491 - 49 86 10, fax: +49 3491 - 49 86 11. Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00, Sat 10:00-14:00.

Get in

No matter which transport you use, the two closest hubs are Berlin and Leipzig/Halle. If you aren't in the vicinity yet, you will likely pass through one of them.

By car

The A9/E51 motorway passes west of Wittenberg. Use one of the exits Klein Marzehns, Köselitz, or Coswig (Anhalt). The town lies at the crossing of the main roads B2 and B187.

By train

Hourly ICE trains on the Leipzig-Berlin line stop in Wittenberg in both directions. The ride takes 40 minutes from Leipzig Hbf or 45 from Berlin Hbf. As a slower but cheaper option you can also use RE trains, which also run about hourly. The ride takes 1 hr 15 min from Berlin, 1 hr 5 min from Leipzig, or 1 hour from Halle.

By plane

Berlin Airport (BERIATA) and Leipzig/Halle (LEJIATA) are the closest airports. Of these two, Berlin offers the widest range of international options.

Get around

Most of the Altstadt (Old City) is pedestrian only. All the major historical sites are within easy walking distance.

• Vetter Bus. Operates five bus lines in Wittenberg.

See

• Luther's Home at the Black Cloister, Collegienstraße 54, ☏ +49 3491-4203-0. Apr-Oct: daily 09:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00. The largest museum of the Protestant Reformation worldwide. Where else would you expect to find it? Admission: €5 (reduced ticket €3).

The Luther Home (Photo: Elgaard, CC BY-SA 3.0)

• Melanchthon House, Collegienstraße 60. Apr-Oct: daily 09:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00. Renaissance building where Phillip Melanchton lived and worked. Admission €4.
• Cranach Houses and Courtyards, Markt 4 and Schlossstraße 1. The painter Lucas Cranach the elder lived here, and ran a print shop. Adult €5, reduced €4.
• Corpus Christi Chapel (next to the town Church). Tiny chapel built in 1368, rebuilt in 1456.

Wittenberg town hall at market square (Photo: Rathaus_Wittenberg_2011.jpg : Felix König
derivative work: Regi51 ( talk ), CC BY 3.0)

• Museum für Stadtgeschichte, Schlossplatz 1d, ☏ +49 3491-43349-20. Tue–Sun 09:00-17:00. Historical museum of the town.
• Haus der Geschichte, Schlossstraße 6. Mon–Fri 10:00-18:00; Sat Sun and holidays 11:00-18:00. This museum documents the life as it was during the socialist years after WW II until the 1980s.
• Piesteritzer Werkssiedlung, Karl-Liebknecht-Platz 20. A working class housing project of 1916, restored to its original state in 2000. The biggest car-free neighbourhood in Germany.
• Rathaus, Markt. Tue–Sun 10:00-17:00. City hall built in 1535, rebuilt almost completely in 1926-28. Changing exhibitions. Memorials with statues of Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon in the town square.

Castle Church (Photo: Michael Schmalenstroer, CC BY-SA 3.0)

View from Schlosskirche tower (Photo: theotherpaul, CC BY-SA 3.0)

• Schlosskirche (Castle Church), Schlossplatz. Where Luther allegedly posted his 95 Theses. Martin Luther and his fellow reformer, Philipp Melanchthon are buried inside. Admission free, €3 for a guided tour, €2 for the tower.
• University Leucorea, Collegienstraße 62. Historic university, opened in 1502, closed in 1817. Today used as a congress center for scientists.
• Stadtkirche St. Marien (Town Church), Jüdenstraße 36. The oldest building in the town, with an altar painted by Lucas Cranach.

Stadtkirche (Citychurch) (Photo: Michael Schmalenstroer, CC BY-SA 3.0)

• Hundertwasserschule, Schillerstraße 22 a. An old school building converted to Hundertwasser's colourful style in 1999.
• Archeological Exhibition, Alte Canzley, Schlossplatz 3. Tue–Sun 08:00-18:00.

Do

• Organ-at-Three, Schlosskirche. May - Oct: Tue at 15:00. Organ music played on the historic Ladegast Organ of the Schlosskirche. Admission free; donations welcome.
• Guided tours, Schlossplatz 2 (starting point: tourist information opposite of Schlosskirche). Daily 14:00 (duration 2 hours). May be cancelled if less than 10 participants show up. Adults €8, children €5.

Eat

Budget

• Kartoffelhaus Zum Schwarzen Bär, Schloßstraße 2, ☏ +49 3491 419868.

Mid-range

• Athos Griechisches Restaurant, Am Alten Bahnhof 1, ☏ +49 3491 414080.
• Il Castello, Schloßstraße 3, ☏ +49 3491 414547.
• Tante Emma's Bier & Café Haus, Markt 9, ☏ +49 3491 414547. Mon 09:00-17:00, Tue-Sun 09:00-24:00.
• Restaurant von Bora, Collegienstraße 54a, 06886 Lutherstadt, ☏ +49 3491 628 6565. Mon closed, Tue Sun 11:00-18:00, Wed-Sat 11:00-23:00. Modern German cuisine with Mediterranean influences

Splurge

• Brauhaus Wittenberg, Markt 6, ☏ +49 3491 433134.

Drink

• Charles Bar, Markt 7, 06886, ☏ +49 170 5961274.

Sleep

Camping

• Marina-Camp-Elbe, Brückenkopf 1, ☏ +49 3491 454-0.

Budget

• DJH Jugendherberge Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Schlossstraße 14-15 (Next to Schlosskirche. Take bus 300 or 304 from main station to Schlossplatz), ☏ +49 3491 - 50 52 05. Check-in: 15:00. Youth hostel inside the castle. €18 + €3.50 for bedclothes (in a shared dorm room).

Mid-range

• Stadthotel Schwarzer Bär, Schloßstraße 2, ☏ +49 3491 4204344.
• Brauhaus Wittenberg, Wallstraße 7, ☏ +49 3491 433130.
• Luther-Hotel, Neustraße 7-10, 06886 Lutherstadt, ☏ +49 3491 4580, fax: +49 3491 458100. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. 159 guest rooms (141 double rooms, 11 single rooms, 6 family rooms and 1 suite). On

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